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Mark Schulz <br />711 Dumont Drive <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Friday, July 31, 1998 <br />Karen Barros <br />Chair, Orange County Planning Board <br />7311 Gates Rd. <br />Hurdle Mills, NC 27541 <br />Dear Ms. Karen Barros: <br />I am a member of the Orange County Bicycle Task Force. As a member of the Taskforce, I <br />strongly support the bicycle plan for Orange County that Slade McCalip and Chris van Hasselt <br />are presenting to the Planning Board on Wednesday evening August 5, 1998. The Taskforce has <br />worked diligently on the plan. I hope you and the entire Board will give it careful attention and <br />endorse it to the Orange County Commissioners. Unfortunately, I will be out of town August 5th <br />and unable to attend the Planning Board meeting. In addition to the testimony presented at the <br />meeting, please consider the following personal story which emphasizes the need for the Bicycle <br />Plan. <br />I commute regularly between my home northeast of Hillsborough and the UNC- Chapel Hill <br />School of Public Health. My usual route is Dumont Dr. to St Marys Rd., left on Cameron for <br />one block and right on Margret Lane to Churton Street. Then, I follow Old 86 to Carrboro. St <br />Mary's Rd. and Old 86 both have narrow lanes, no paved shoulder and more and more traffic <br />everyday including trucks. Most people think I am crazy to do this commute two or three times <br />a week, but I enjoy it. The ride takes me about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It gives me a good <br />aerobic workout, and there is a shower available at the Student Recreation Center at UNC. In <br />addition, my bike is well maintained; and I have been a regular bicycle commuter for 23 years so <br />I am comfortable riding in traffic. <br />Yesterday, I left my house at around 7:30 a.m. on my ride south to UNC. At about 8:20 a.m. I <br />was pedaling south on Old 86 past Eubanks Rd. I noticed two dump trucks waiting to turn south <br />onto Old 86. I hoped they were not in a hurry because I know from experience that there is <br />almost no place to pass between Eubanks Rd and Calvander on Old 86. There are three little <br />rollercoaster hills immediately south of Eubanks Rd. The two cars that had been following me <br />passed me on the first rollercoaster hill. I could see the dump trucks in my rear view mirror as I <br />began to descend the second rollercoaster hill. I figured the first dump truck would try to pass <br />me on this little downhill even though it would be illegal. I hoped the second one would not try <br />to pass too because the little downhill was followed by a little uphill and who knew when more <br />